Smartwatch shipments just beat Swiss watches for the first time ever

Nearly 50 years after Captain Kirk used his wristwatch communicator on Star Trek, today's smartwatches have finally started to overtake traditional ones.

The newest data on global smartwatch shipment estimates for the fourth quarter 2015 show that the smartwatches surpassed Swiss Watch shipments for the first time, according to Strategy Analytics.

Global smartwatch shipments for the quarter totaled 8.1 million units, which edged the 7.9 million Swiss Watches. Smartwatch shipments have surpassed Swiss Watches in different regions intermittently, but this is the first time it has happened globally, which could indicate that the smartwatch market is finally gaining some real momentum among customers around the world.

Strategy Analytics' report also revealed that demand for smartwatches is increasing, particularly in North America, Western Europe, and Asia. The 8.1 million global smartwatch shipments in the fourth quarter 2015 marked a staggering 316% year-over-year growth from 1.9 million in Q4 2014.

The report also noted that Apple and Samsung represent 8 of every 10 smartwatches shipped. Apple Watches made up 63% of the global smartwatch shipments in the fourth quarter, while Samsung accounted for 16%.

Finally, Strategy Analytics' showed that Swiss Watch brands have not been nimble in their response to the growing smartwatch trend. The 7.9 million units shipped marked a 5% decline from 8.3 million in the year-ago period. Some high-end brands such as Tag Heuer have debuted their own smartwatches, but these make up just 1% of all smartwatches shipped in the fourth quarter.

This data is one indication that smartwatches will continue to expand their presence on the market in the coming years. But this is just one piece of a broader Internet of Things (IoT) Revolution that has already begun with the arrival of smart cars and homes. The IoT Revolution is picking up speed and when it does, it will change how we live, work, travel, entertain, and more...

From connected homes and connected cars to smart buildings and transportation, every aspect of our lives will be affected by the increasing ability of consumers, businesses, and governments to connect to and control everything around them.

Imagine “smart mirrors” that allow you to digitally try on clothes. Assembly line sensors that can detect even the smallest decrease in efficiency and determine when crucial equipment needs to be repaired or replaced. GPS-guided agricultural equipment that can plant, fertilize, and harvest crops. Fitness trackers that allow users to transmit data to their doctors.

It’s not science fiction. This “next Industrial Revolution” is happening as we speak. It’s so big that it could mean new revenue streams for your company and new opportunities for you. The only question is: Are you fully up to speed on the IoT?

After months of researching and reporting this exploding trend, John Greenough and Jonathan Camhi of Business Insider Intelligence have put together an essential briefing that explains the exciting present and the fascinating future of the Internet of Things. It covers how the IoT is being implemented today, where the new sources of opportunity will be tomorrow and how 16 separate sectors of the economy will be transformed over the next 20 years.

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The report gives a thorough outlook on the future of the Internet of Things, including the following big picture insights:

IoT devices connected to the Internet will more than triple by 2020, from 10 billion to 34 billion. IoT devices will account for 24 billion, while traditional computing devices (e.g. smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, etc.) will comprise 10 billion.

Nearly $6 trillion will be spent on IoT solutions over the next five years.

Businesses will be the top adopter of IoT solutions because they will use IoT to 1) lower operating costs; 2) increase productivity; and 3) expand to new markets or develop new product offerings.

Governments will be the second-largest adopters, while consumers will be the group least transformed by the IoT.

And when you dig deep into the report, you’ll get the whole story in a clear, no-nonsense presentation:

The complex infrastructure of the Internet of Things distilled into a single ecosystem

The important role analytics systems, including edge analytics, cloud analytics, will play in making the most of IoT investments

The sizable security challenges presented by the IoT and how they can be overcome

The four powerful forces driving IoT innovation, plus the four difficult market barriers to IoT adoption

Complete analysis of the likely future investment in the critical IoT infrastructure: connectivity, security, data storage, system integration, device hardware, and application development

In-depth analysis of how the IoT ecosystem will change and disrupt 16 different industries

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